Archive for the ‘Wildlife’ Category

I am recently back from my 2015 trip to the Maasai Mara where once again, the wildlife and photographic opportunities did not disappoint.

Leopards galore, Lions galore and a fair few Cheetahs graced the plains during this particular trip. There were areas of short grass and long grasses which gave us the chance to photograph the familiar subjects in quite different environments. For me, one mammal stood out this year and that was the male Lion. We saw several healthy boys over the 11 days and spent many a happy hour in their close company.

Here is one waking up as the early morning light slowly moved onto his face.

There are still some places available on the 2016 trip. Please CONTACT ME if you are interested in joining this trip in future years.

It is time to head back to the plains of the Maasai Mara region of Kenya for another photographic safari.

Kenya always offers a great variety of photographic opportunities covering large and small mammals, large and small birds, warm and welcoming residents and great company with the fellow photographers.

I am hoping to see lots of lions, leopards, cheetahs and more. As per normal I will be updating my Facebook and Twitter feeds along the way, so if you would like to get a sense of what two weeks on Safari is like then please follow my social media feeds. Links available on this page.

Firstly, apologies for the lack of content here recently. The daylight hours at this time of the year stretch from way way before breakfast until almost bed time. I have therefore been been spending a lot of time in the field with my camera, leaving very limited time for the computer.

One activity that I would like to highlight was an exhibition that took place in Switzerland as part of the 2015 Photo Munsingen event. My exhibition “British Birds: Behaviour, Personality and Portraits” was on display and I attended to open the exhibition and talk about my work during the course of a four day celebration of photography. The images were displayed outdoors on trees in a small wooded area which was alive with birds. Having the natural sounds of wild birds complement my visual images was a wonderful combination and a great setting to display my work.

Many thanks must go to the organisers of Photo Munsingen for all of their preparation and for giving me the opportunity to exhibit my work in a beautiful part of Switzerland.

It never ceases to amaze me how far and wide myths and rumours circulate, especially concerning my photographic club WIGAN 10.

On my travels I have met fellow photographers in all corners of the world. On the Galapagos Islands, in Japan , Australia, regularly on the plains of the Massai Mara in Kenya and even inside the Arctic circle and whenever the topic of club photography comes up someone always says to me Oh! You are from Wigan 10! You have to be invited to join that club.

This happened to me again recently, so I have decided to write this short blog to clarify some Myths and Rumours regarding WIGAN 10 Foto Club, the current FIAP Club’s World Cup Champions. (The Little Owl image shown with this post was awarded 2nd place and a FIAP Silver medal in the 2014 World Cup competition).

WIGAN 10 – Membership is by invitation only.WRONG – JUST APPLY. I applied back in December 2007 and joined the club in January 2008.

WIGAN 10 – Is a club with only 10 members.WRONG – We currently have 11 members and since I joined we have had as many as 15 at any one point in time. Meeting room size is a limiting factor and our current venue could accommodate around 15 people.

WIGAN 10 – Is a club for creative photographers.WRONG– I am not known for my creative photography and I am a member! I contribute wildlife and sports images and my pictures are valued just as much as any other members.

WIGAN 10 – Is based in WIGAN, Lancashire.WRONG – We currently meet in the village of Croft, near Warrington, which is in Cheshire.

Please spread this message far and wide so that the next person I meet understands that WIGAN 10, all 11 of us, are a club currently based in Cheshire. We welcome photographers of all genres including creative, wildlife and sports. Should our membership expand, we would not rename our club WIGAN 12, 13, 14 or even WIGAN 15. And, last but not least, NO invitation is necessary to join us, you just apply.

The first quarter of each calendar year sees me turn my attentions to photographing Short-eared Owls.

The combination of this over wintering Owl and the low setting winter sun makes for an ideal image in my mind. Well that is the theory… In practise I spend countless hours hiding in fields, waiting for the Owl, hoping for some sunshine and praying that the wind direction is favourable to capture “that” image. With so many variables it is little wonder that on many occasions I come back home “empty handed”.

When the elements do all fall in to place however, it is very rewarding and the hours spent freezing my feet and hands are soon forgotten. This 2015 SEO season, despite a poor and frustrating start, has ultimately produced some of my best images of this beautiful Owl.